A leading AI safety expert, Dr. Roman Yampolskiy, has issued a stark warning: rapid advancements in artificial general intelligence (AGI) and automation technologies could lead to the disappearance of 99% of human jobs by 2027. This prediction highlights the accelerating pace of AI development and its potential to deeply impact the global labor market.
Dr. Yampolskiy, a computer scientist and AI researcher at the University of Louisville, believes these upcoming changes will be more dramatic than any previous industrial revolution. Speaking on "The Diary of a CEO" podcast with Steven Bartlett, he argued that machines will eventually be capable of performing almost all tasks currently done by humans. He suggests that AGI systems, capable of outperforming humans in most cognitive tasks, could emerge as early as 2027, triggering widespread job displacement. "In five years, all the physical labor can also be automated," he stated. "So we're looking at a world where we have levels of unemployment we've never seen before. Not talking about 10 percent unemployment, which is scary, but 99 percent".
Unlike previous technological revolutions, Dr. Yampolskiy believes this shift won't create new job categories to replace those lost. "There is not a job which cannot be automated," he said. "That's never happened before. All the inventions we previously had were kind of a tool for doing something". Even creative fields aren't safe, as AI systems could become faster, more accurate, and data-driven content creators.
While the AI expert didn't specifically list the roles that might survive, he implied that uniquely human skills would be key. He outlined a few exceptions, emphasizing they would only employ a small fraction of the current workforce. These include roles driven by a "fetish" for human-made goods, similar to the premium placed on handmade crafts. He also suggested that counselors and similar roles, rooted in lived human experience, could retain value because humans uniquely understand what it means to be human. Intermediaries who can understand, manage, and deploy AI systems for others may also be valuable. Finally, some may prefer to pay for human services, regardless of AI capabilities. As an example, "Warren Buffett would not switch to AI. He would use his human accountant,” Dr. Yampolskiy stated.
The predictions have sparked debate, with some suggesting AI could eliminate even highly skilled jobs like coding and engineering by around 2030 if automation accelerates. Others argue that humans will need to adapt by focusing on roles that require empathy, creativity, and complex human interaction, areas where AI currently struggles. Gartner, a research and advisory firm, predicts that most recruiters will favor candidates who can use generative AI to solve problems, improve productivity, and make informed decisions. They also anticipate a rise in "AI-free" skills assessments to gauge candidates' critical thinking abilities, as human judgment remains crucial in high-stakes fields.
Dr. Yampolskiy also warned that humanity could approach a technological singularity by 2045 – a point where AI-driven progress accelerates beyond human understanding. He compared AI development to the rapid iterations of consumer technology, stating, "Imagine the research and development of an iPhone being automated. It happens every six months, every three months, every month, week, day, hour, minute, second...You cannot keep up with 30 iterations of iPhone in one day". He suggests regulation could potentially slow down the disruption.